Power driven swing



Dec. 17, 1935.

A. T. GOETTER POWER DRIVEN SWING Uriginal Filed June 22, 1931 2Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. flllan 73 67062 fer BY W7 A TTORNE Y.

Dec. 17, 1935. A. T. GOETTER POWER DRIVEN SWING Original Filed June 22,1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Ilfllllliii I Iunmm INVENTOR,

filial? T 6'06? 267 7 ATTORNEY.

Patented Dec. 17, 1935 UNITED STATES FATENT QFFIQE Application June 22,1931, Serial No. 546,142 Renewed October 29, 1934 4 Claims.

This invention relates to amusement devices and more particularly topower operated swings, although certain features thereof may be employedwith equal advantage for other purposes.

.It contemplates-more especially the provision of means for controllingthe power actuation of a swing member in order to impart amusementwithout the display of any effort at the instance of the rider.

I Numerous types of amusement devices of the swing type have heretoforebeen proposed, but these are either manually motivated for the most partor else the power driving thereof is rendered so intricate and uncertainas to preclude the general adoption thereof from a commercialstandpoint. In fact, it is manifest that the application of power mustbe automatically controlled and rendered intermittent at predeterminedintervals so that the proper actuation of the swing will be effectedwith inexpensive, simple and dependable contrivances.

It is desirable that the power should be applied at only predeterminedintervals and in a uni-direction so that a uniform impulse and swingcharacteristic will be imparted thereto with minimum wear on theinstrumentalities and the automatic control thereof. Devices of thischaracter are usually very cumbersome and intricate to the extent thatthe control is very dependable or lacking in the simplicity required ofsuch devices so as to meet the requirements of commercial practice bothfrom the standpoint of construction and operation economy.

One object of the present invention is to simplify the construction andimprove the operation of devices of the character mentioned.

Another object is to provide simple and dependable power device foractuating a swing in a predetermined direction and along a'selectedrange to effect the uniform movement thereof.

Still another object is to provide a power driving device for a swingmember to control the actuation thereof within predetermined limits ofmovement.

A further object is the provision of electric contact control means fora power swing device which is rendered responsive to the swing member.

A still further object is to provide electrical means for controllingthe actuation of the swing member responsive to the movement thereof.

Still a further object is to provide a simple and dependable electricalcontrol for a swing power driving device so as to govern the movement ofa swing member to assume predetermined amusement characteristics.

Other objects and advantages will appear from the following descriptionof an illustrated embodiment of the present invention. 5

In the drawings:

Figure l is a front View in elevation of a swing embodying features ofthe present invention.

Figure 2 is a side view in elevation of the 10 device shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary front View of the operatingmechanism employed in connection with the device shown in Figure 1.

Figure r is a sectional view taken substanl5 tially along line IV-IV ofFigure 3.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken substantially along line VV of Figure4-.

The structure selected for illustration comprises a frame it] of anysuitable construction, 0 in this instance comprising a pair ofvertically spaced standards it and 52. Each of the standards H and "i2are composed of inclined bars l3 and is which are connected at theirupper extremities by means of any suitable plate or 25 bracket 55 forreinforcement by a plurality of cross members IE, it and IS, in thisinstance three, which are bolted or otherwise secured thereto in anysuitable or approved manner. The cross members 58 are attached to thebase 30 of the inclined bars i3 and i l, and the standards it and I2 aremaintained in vertical spaced relation by means of bars 59 and 29attached to the extremities thereof. It is thus apparent that a rigidframe iii is provided to stwtain 35 swing instrumentalities thereon ofthe character to be hereinafter described.

In order to support a swing and render such oscillatory, a shaft 2| isdisposed in parallel spaced relation with the uppermost cross member IQfor vertical alignment therewith, it being journalled for support inbearings 22 and 23 carried in brackets 2e fixed to the inclined framesupport bars l3 and M by means of any suitable fasteners such as thecarriage bolts 25. As 45 shown, a swing member comprising a seat 26 issupported by any suitable hangers 2'! which terminate in bosses 28 forfixed attachment to the shaft 2 l, thereby sustaining the seat member 25for oscillatory movement with the shaft 25. 50 The rider is thussupported in any comfortable posture upon the seat member 23$ forswinging conveyance along an oscillatory path about the shaft 12!. Theseat member 25 together with its hangers 2! may be of any suitableconstruction 55 'motor 35 is. preferably supportedupon and configurationdepending upon the dictates of commercial practice, and the swingingmovement thereof is occasioned by power driven instrumentalities as willappear more fully hereinafter;

In order to oscillate the seat member 26 a gear segment 23 is attachedabout the axial hub 30 thereof to the shaft 2| immediately in front of ahanger 21." A carriage bolt=3| ex-' tends between the periphery of thegear segment 29 and the swing hanger 21 to insure the movement therewithin unison, there being a spacer collar 32 enveloping the carriage. bolt3!: between the gear segment 29 and swing hanger 21 to maintain therelative position thereof with out any possible displacement orexcessive strain thereon. Movement is imparted to thegear seg-. ment 29through the medium of a pinion 33" which meshes therewith for support byan arma ture. shaft 34 of an electric motor 35 which, in this instance,constitutes the power'source. The a base board 36'fixed to the crossmember H of the forward frame standard ll, thereby establishing anoperative connection between the seat members: 26 and the driving ormotion producing mechi anism 35'.

In order to control the power operation of the swingmember 25, it ispreferred-to impart power movement thereto in a single direction forpower drive along a predetermined range; As a con.

sequence, controlled movement of the swing member 26 is renderedpossible and. the idling of the forward bearing bracket 24 through the.

medium of set screws 40.

The'energy for operating the motor 35 is'derived from .any suitablepower source through.

wires 4| and 42 which are connectedv to the motor terminal 43 and frameterminal 44, respectively. The frame terminal instance, mounted on thecross. member |5 to energize a metallic shaft contacting brush 45fixedthereto in .any .suitable manner by fasteners 451 "The metallicbrush'45'is preferably sustainedby springs 41 so as to resilientlyproject the contact face 48 thereof .inthe path .of the shaft extension31 having .a contact ring sector.'43 attached thereto.

The contact ring sector 49 is secured to the shaft extension 31 in anysuitable manner and is insulated therefrom by means of a'fiber shaftsleeve 50.- The. peripheral .path of the brush contact..48 is rendereduniform owing to an insulator band 5| which completes and constitutesthecircumferential extension of the ring sector 49, -thereby.,closing.and opening the circuit responsive to the rotation of the shaftextension 31 without any appreciableivariation in periph- V eral'contact of the brush45. The other ter- .minal 52.of the motor 35 isconnected. to a switch contact 53 fixed to the cross member I6 forresponds to the swing-of the seat To this end, the shaft 2| projects.

44 is, in .this.

electrical connection through a wire 54. It is understood that thecontact brush 45 and switch contact 53 are insulated from the crossmember H5 in the usual manner and that the circuit is completed througha contact 55 mounted in 5 confronting relation with the contact 53 formanual control through a switch 56 connected thereto through wires 51and 58. The wire 51 is secured :to the switch contact 55' 'while' thewire 58 connects the other terminal of the -switch to the contact brush45 owing to the terminal .nut: 59 threadedly engaged therewith.

Inorder to control the power actuation of the swing member 26 after themanual switch 56 is closed, the automatic switch contact 55 is mountedon a bracket 60 for insulated attachment-"to the'extremitytl thereof.The bracket 60 is provided with studs 62 and 63 which extend vertically'upward therefrom on both sides of the shaft extension 31 for frictionalengagementZO therewith by virtue of a confronting'clamp 54.Theconfronting clamp 54 has an arcuate inter mediate sectionwhich-envelops or embraces the shaft extension 31 having abrakeba-nd'fio" fixed to the periphery thereof for frictional 25 i graspby the clamp section 65;The arms of the clamp 64 are'provided withapertures 61 for the reception of the bracket studs '62 and 63 and "a:resilient urge is imparted thereto" by means-of spiral springs 68.

The spiral springs 38 envelop the bracket studs 62 and 63' between theclamp arms 64 and the heads'69 thereof, thereby effecting 'a' .constantfrictional engagement between-the bracket Gfi'and shaft extension 31.The frictional en-" gagement of the bracket 60 with the shaftex-J'tension 31 is maintained effective and any adjustment thereofrendered'possible by means of the stud heads 69"which are in threadeden-' gage-ment'therewith for this purpose. "LOCk'IIllltS 10 engage thestuds 62 and 63 for contact'with' the'stud heads-69 so as to precludeany acci-' dental displacement or movement thereof which would have theslightest influence on the fric-" tionalreaction of the clamp 60 withthe shaft 4 extension '31. I As a result the bracket 60 with its switchcontact'55 will tend to move in unison with the shaft extension 31 tomake'or break the circuit by the movement thereof relative to the '5other terminal contact 53. The swing member?) 26 is thuspropelled-responsive to the motor 35 controlled by the shaft extension31 which serves as a support for the seat hangers oscillated in unisontherewith.

starting from-a position of rest which brings the seat member 26vertically beneath the shaft 2|, the manual switch 56' may be closed tothe end that the swing is still inactive owing to the separation of theautomatic switch terminals 53 and 55. 1 It will be necessary, therefore,to manually propel the seat member with its hang ers'21 in acounterclockwise direction (viewed from Figures 1 and 3) for apredetermined distance to the end that the bracket 60 will-swingtherewith until stopped by the bent extremity 1| thereof which engagesthe cross member l6 serving as an obstacle to any continued movement'with the'shaft 2|. The rider then releases the-hanger 21 and'rests uponthe seat member 70 Withthe arrangement abovedescribed and end ofbringing the automatic switch terminal contacts 53 and 55 together.

The motor 35 will then be energized, and the swing driven for continuedmovement in the same direction until the metallic contact brush 48 ridesoff of the shaft sector ring 49 and on the insulator portion 5i thereof,thereby breaking the circuit and ole-energizing the motor 35 which willidle for movement responsive to the swing members'Zl which continueowing to the inertia effect thereon. Upon reaching the extreme positionof oscillatory movement controlled by the opposed influence of gravitythereon, the seat member 26 with its hangers- 27 will reverse thedirectional movement to the end of separating the automatic switchterminal contacts 53 and 55 so that the motor 35 is rendered inactiveuntil the opposite extreme position of movement is reached. Thus, themotor 35 is energized in a predetermined directional range of pivotalmovement of the swing members 21.

I'hereupon the swing members 21 will be urged in the opposite direction(clockwise) responsive to the urge of gravity and the switch terminalcontact 55 will be moved to again contact the terminal 53 to the end ofagain energizing the motor 35 for continuing the power actuation of theswing 2? until the contact brush 48 similarly rides off of the shaftsector ring 29. This cycle of power actuation of the seat member 26 withits hangers 21 continues for an indefinite period until it is desired tobring the mechanism to a stop by opening the switch 56. The manualswitch 56 may be fixed to the forward standards ll within reach of therider resting in the seat 26, thereby enabling the manual control of theswinging movement responsive to the motor 35. Obviously, the manualswitch 56 may be positioned on the seat 25 or adjacent thereto forsupport on the hangers 2?, and this depends entirely upon the dictatesof commercial practice.

Various changes may be made in the embodiment of the invention hereinspecifically described without departing from or sacrificing any of theadvantages thereof as defined in the appended claims. 1

I claim:

1. In a power swing, the combination with a frame, of a shaft supportedby said frame,

hanger members mounted for swinging movement with said shaft, a seatmember carried by said hanger members, motion producing mechanismoperatively connected to said hanger members, said motion producingmechanism including an electric motor, and electric timing meansincluding .a contact member frictionally associated with said shaft,said contact member being responsive to the swinging movement of saidhanger members during a predetermined range of seat movement to energizesaid motor and thereby impart unidirectional impulses to said hangermembers within said predetermined range of seat movement.

2. In a power swing, the combination with a support of a shaft journaledin said support, hanger members mounted upon said shaft for swingingmovement therewith, a seat carried upon said hanger members, electricdriving means operatively connected with said hanger members to effectswinging movement thereof and rocking movement of said shaft, andcontact means operated by the rocking of said shaft in one direction toenergize said driving means and operated by the rocking of said shaft inthe opposite direction to deenergize said driving means, therebyimparting swinging impulses to said hanger members when said hangermembers are moving in one direction.

3. In a power swing, the combination with a frame, of a shaft journalledin said frame, hanger members'mounted upon said shaft for swingingmovement therewith, a seat member carried by said hanger members,electric driving means operatively connected with said hanger members toeffect swinging movement thereof and rocking movement of said shaft, andcontact members operated by the rocking of said shaft in one directionto make contact and energize said driving means for a predeterminedrange of seat movement and operated by the continued displacement ofsaid shaft beyond said predetermined range of seat movement in the samedirection to break contact and de-energize said electric driving meanswhereby to impart swinging impulses to said hanger members in a givendirection during said predetermined range of swinging movement thereof.

4. In a power swing, the combination with a frame, of a shaft journalledin said frame, hanger members mounted upon said shaft for swingingmovement therewith, a seat member carried by said hanger members,electric driving means operatively connected with said hanger members toeffect swinging movement thereof and rocking movement of said shaft, andpairs of confronting contact members operated by the rocking movement ofsaid shaft, both pairs of said contact members being closed responsiveto the rocking movement of said shaft during a predetermined range ofseat movement in one direction to energize said driving means forimparting unidirectional impulses to said hanger members within saidpredetermined range of seat movement and one pair of contact membersbeing operated by the continued rocking movement of said hanger membersin the same direction for separation after displacement of said shaftbeyond said predetermined range of seat movement to break contact andde-energize said electric driving means to allow said hanger members toswing in the opposite direction under the influence of gravity.

ALLAN T. GOETTER.

